Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer

ForrestHK · 02 Apr 2011

First of all thanks for your tutorial, have been waiting for this long long time.

Today i did the OOBE on my computer and transferred the harddisk to the new system(with one installed system on it), but unfortunately it stopped loaded up my system on my harddisk transferred when reaching “System is starting devices” and said “Windows could not finish configuring the system. To attempt to resume configuration, restart the computer.” And when i reboot it showed the same warning.
I have loaded up setup.etl from Panther folder and looked it up on my installed system, got nothing special warning like reg keys failed or wtsoever…

Any solutions?

Kari · 02 Apr 2011

Hi Forrest, welcome to the Seven Forums.

Do I understand you correctly? You followed the instructions of this tutorial Method one steps 1 through 5, then without turning the old computer on removed the hard disk, attached it to a new computer and booted it up? If so, I really do not understand why it does not work.

Important thing to notice is that when you have sysprepped the Windows setup as Method One steps 1 through 5 tell you to do, you lose the generalizing if you do try to boot the old computer again instead of directly moving the HD to a new computer. It's essential that you do the sysprep with shut down option, then remove the HD and attach it to a new computer without booting the old computer again. If you "want to check" if it worked by booting the old computer up once after sysprepping, the generalizing is done and Windows searches and installs the drivers of that old computer, and the HD / Windows setup does not boot anymore (at least without difficulties) when HD is finally moved to new computer.

So: sysprep with generalize and shut down, turn computer off, HD to new computer, boot new computer. in other words: follow the instructions literally as written.

I do not understand that with Panther folder?

Kari

ForrestHK · 02 Apr 2011

Yes, Correct.

Well I searched around tutorials indicating that reg keys might not work if they are larger than 8kbs or other wtsoever cases, and they said checking the log might help to diagonose the problem, because wt happen was when it reaches to the "Setup is starting devices" screen, a Warning window (Just like those in regular windows) popped up and say "Windows cannot configure correctly, Please reboot and try again" or something simlar.

On that screen if i press OK as it would reboot my computer. Before that I pressed Shift+F10 to call up the command prompt, and finding the directory system:\System\Panther and copied the setup.etl file within it to another directory. And i booted up with my windows installed on another hd on the same computer, call up comand prompt tracerpt that file and opened it in textedit(or notepad). but i can't find any errors related to reg key.....

Any Ideas?

Thank you for the Quick Reply!!!

Forrest

Kari · 02 Apr 2011

I still can not understand that "Panther" folder, what you are trying to achieve? It's completely useless folder after installation and could even be safely deleted without whatsoever damage or problems to your system.

It has nothing to do with your issue. I assume you are not trying to sysprep your rig with the unattend.xml file located in Panther folder? That would be a sure way not to succeed.

At this point I have to say I am very sorry but I simply can not understand why it is not working for you. To test this I just sysprepped a desktop of mine running Windows 7 Home Premium, took a HD away from my old XP desktop, attached the sysprepped Seven Home Premium HD to it and booted. No problems whatsoever. Took less than 15 minutes to have old Seven setup running on a new rig.

I am completely unable to reproduce your issue. I really do not know what to say.

Kari

ForrestHK · 02 Apr 2011

Well I was just trying to find if any failed reg keys is causing the problem... the Panther did nothing about my progress but its just a log.

I indeed followed steps 1-5 and when i reached step 6 in a black screen with words saying "Starting up new devices" and a warning suddenly popped up and tell me to reboot to try again. When I reboot the same problem happens again. Anyway to diagonose it?

Kari · 02 Apr 2011

Sorry to ask this again: After step 5 you should have a shut down computer. At this point you should not turn on the old computer, nor boot it; instead, you should turn it completely off from main power, deattach the hd, attach the hd to a new computer and then boot this new computer.

Did you do so?

Kari

ForrestHK · 02 Apr 2011

completely correct. I just saw the sysprep is done. And turned off. And dettached the power supply, then to the new computer.

Kari · 02 Apr 2011

First, I really hope if you get this solved you will post the solution here.

As I've mentioned, I can not understand. I only tried to reproduce this once now, following the tut to the letter, and as I said I had no problems. Using the same 7 HP hard disk, I'm going to test it on a few other rigs when I just have the time.

Does the HD work and Windows re-install necessary drivers when you re-attach the HD back to the old computer?

Kari

ForrestHK · 02 Apr 2011

Well i didn't have time to try it yet, will try soon, but as you say it should work... i only want to know what caused my machine to stuck as I followed the tutorial step by step. Have you heard any way like system log or wtsoever during the progress?

Thanks A lot!

Forrest

Kari · 02 Apr 2011

Locations of various log files can be seen here: Windows Setup Log Files. Notice that if you have deleted or renamed Panther folder, it will be recreated when needed.

Good luck, keep us informed. I'm trying to find a solution, too.

Kari